Spark intensifier



M. J. FREEMAN.

SPARK INTENSIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-9, 1920.

Patented July 18, 1922.

J/WJM Jif'e m WITNESSES ATTO R N EY MARSHALL a. FREEMAN,

or nAsr'onAiven, NEW JnnsnY.

SPARK INTENSIFIER.

iaaaeoa.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, MARSHALL J. Faun MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful; Spark lntensiiier, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to spark gaps for use in connection with the spark plugs of internal combustion engines.

The general object of the invention is to provide a spark gap to greatly intensify the spark delivered within the cylinder by the spark plug.

Further objects are to provide a spark intensifier that is easily and economically manufactured, whose installation is simple, which is adjustable to meet with varying conditions, and which may be applied to spark plugs of all makes of automobiles, and motorcycles, as well as marine engines.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, howver, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawing, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modi fications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing 2- Fig. 1 is a perspective view plug with the device attached.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through the intensifier, showing a fragment only of the spark plug.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the parts of a spark of Fig. 2.

l ig. t is' a top view of parts (it Fig.2.

l? 5 is a detail perspective view.

ilhe numeral 5 represents a block which is made of fiber or any convenient insulating material. This block 5 has apertures 6 near each end. fine oi? the apertures is of a size to admit the center stem of a spark plug so that the device may be held clamped upon the spark plug by means of a nut 16 which is provided on such center stem.

The binding post includes a screw 7 which passes through the other aperture 6 and has its head on the lower side of the block and a shank extending above the block. A nut Specificationbf Letters Patent. 7

Application filed September a, 1920.

prongs are formed integrally with Patented July is, 1922.

Serial No. 409,159.

8 clamps the screw to the insulating block cal contact with the terminal of a conductor leading from the spark coil. As shown in Fig. 1, the terminal of the conductor is clamped between the screw cap 9and the nut 8and fits about the shank of the screw 7 in the customary manner. The parts so far described are not understood to possess any novelty.

A plate 10 is held clamped flat against the upper face of the block 5 by means of the nut 8. This plate has an aperture of a size to register with the aperture 6 through which the screw 7 passes, so that the nut 8 may hold it securely in position. The plate 10 has a length less than half the length of the block 5 and has a width less than the width of the block, as shown. A pair of the plate, each prong terminating in a point 12, the two points 12 in cooperation with the nut of the spark plug, providing a visible spark g l The two prongs 11 are exactly alike. Each rises from the plate and is bent outwardly so as to extend beyond the sides of the plate, the shape of the prongs being such that the point of greatest rise of each prong above the block is also the point of greatest extent beyond the sides of the block. From these points the prongs taper and are bent downwardly and inwardly toward each other, the points 12 being spaced an equal distance above the block and also above the terminal of the spark'plug. Each prong is of equal width throughout up tothe point where the tapering starts. The plate and prongs are preferably formed from brass, as is also the binding post. Thus the prongs may be bent so as to be spaced the desired distance above the terminal of the spark plug. It has been found that by making the distance between the points 12 and said terminal the thickness of a nickel the best results will be obtained. Ofcourse, this distance may be varied slightly according to the temperature and other conditions. i

A terminal element 13 is provided for the spark plug and hasan aperture 1 1 of a 0 and provides a stop against which a 'screw. cap 9 may bear so as to make a good electriof specially treated steel and has a pair of upstanding arms integral therewith. The arms preferably have squared-off terminals as shown. the said terminals or electrodes being extensive in surface in order to promote thermal radiation. A pair of spark gaps is provided by the spacing of the two arms 15 from the two points 12.

The effect of the above arrangement is that the are or spark gap of the plug is considerably intensified. The intensity of the spark causing the gap depends upon the dielectricquality of the gap; that is, its freedom from conducting substances. It is well known that the heat of the spark vaporizes small quantities of the metal composing the electrodes so that the gap becomes an atmosphere of metallic vapor, the same being quite conductive. This results in a decided lowering of the disruptive character of the spark. By dividing the circuit into two branches, each having a gap, the mass of the elec trodes is doubled; therefore, the cooling efficiency is increased. Since the current through each branch is halved, each spark will be less intense than if the gap were single', and it will have less heat value and there will be little or no fusion of the terminals. But the sum of the two sparks will in the aggregate be of the same disruptive intensity as the single spark embracing the entire circuit over a gap of more perfect dielectric efficiency than has heretofore been obtained. The simple, method of producing such results consists in dividing an electric on rent flowing to the plug, passing it through a. plurality of parallel auxiliary spark gaps which are located in advance of the spark gap of the plug, and rc-uniting it prior to its passage through the ignition gap of the spark plug.

The present device, if attached to old spark plugs, will make them work as well as do new ones. Eve-n ifthe plugs are oily, the spark is so intense and hot that regular explosions will occur in the cylinders. The spark delivered to the cylinders in all weather, even the coldest, is a hot one. Should the porcelain of the spark plug become, cracked, the plug may nevertheless be used successfully, provided the deviceof the present invention is attached thereto. In fact, a large section may be taken from the porcelain and still a fat spark will be delivered to the cylinder.

Another feature of the present invention is that the spark is always in sight, making it easy to locate ignition troubles. The capacity of the present intensifier for very heavy current is almost unlimited due to the size and shape of the prongs. The peculiar curve given to the prongs prevents any possibility of the spark leaping from any portion of the prongs to the plug terminal except from the points.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with an insulating block, said block having an aperture near one end to admit the center stem of a. spark plug, a nut on the stem for maintaining the block on the stem, a binding post mounted on the other end of the block, a plate secured upon one face of the block by said binding posts, said plate including a portion held flat against the block, and a pair of like bendable prongs joined to said plate, each prong having a tapered end and rising from the block and extending outwardly, the tapered end of each prong being inturned and bent downwardly but spacedabove the block and above the nut which holds the device upon the center stem of the spark plug.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with an insulating block, said block having an aperture near one end to admit the center stem of a spark plug, a nut on the stem for maintaining the block on the stem, a binding post mounted on the other end of the block, a plate secured upon one face of the block by said binding post, said plate including a portion held fiat against the block, a pair of like bendable prongs joined to said plate, each prong having a tapered end and'rising from the block and extending outwardly, the tapered end of each prong being inturned and bent d ownwardly but spaced above the block and above the nut which holds the device upon the center stem of the spark plug, and terminal element for the spark plug, said terminalelement being clamped to the block and plug and having a pair of arms, each arm extend ing upwardly and forming with the corrcsponding prong aspark gap.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with an .insulating'block,

said block having an aperture near one end to admit the center stem of a spark plug, a nuton the stem for maintaining the block on the stem, a; binding post mounted on the other end of the block, a platesecured upon one face of the block by said binding p ost, said plate including a portion held fiat against the block, and a pair of like prongs joined to said plate, each prong rising from the block and extending forwardly along the block, the end of each prong being spaced above the block and above the nut which holds the device upon the center stem of the spark plug.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown, I have hereto affixed my signature.

MARSHALL J. FBEEMAN. 

